5 Reasons We Love Riverdale

In college, one of my best friends was from Riverdale; and that’s when this suburban gal was first introduced to this quaint section of this fascinating borough. As a teenager, all I knew about the Bronx was that it was a huge “melting pot” of immigrants from all over the world, and it was where Yankees Stadium was located—and now my Bronx knowledge has expanded greatly.

Riverdale is the northernmost point in New York City, and it’s also where my husband is from, actually. So, thanks to my longtime friend and my family members, I have learned there is so much more to Riverdale than just Archie, Veronica, and Betty. (Give yourself a massive pat on the back if you understand that reference!)

Here are five things you should know about the “tippy top” of Manhattan:

Nature in Riverdale

Like flowers in every color of the rainbow, and lush gardens? Who doesn’t, right? Well, Wave Hill has got them; it’s a public garden with greenhouses, a cultural center, and more, ready to be explored. It’s a fantastic place for families to check out. Nature-inspired activities held on weekends (except in severe weather), include Family Art Project, Family Nature Walks, and more. It’s even bustling in the Winter and Spring, complete with coyote and owl projects and discussions; live performances, artistic displays, nature walks, author meet-and-greets, an “armor week” for those of all ages fascinated with knights and princesses, family art projects, and more. At Wave Hill, there’s also an on-site café with high tea times. 

Parks in Riverdale

Riverdale itself has many scenic parks and playgrounds with bike paths, climbing gyms, swing sets, slides, and more. Smaller parks include Spuyten Duyvil, Van Cortlandt Park (home to an awesome Tortoise and Hare statue), Riverdale Park, Henry Hudson Park, and many more. Spuyten Duyvil has swings for kids of all ages, from babies to older kids. Seton Park is the go-to park for local baseball games. Fun fact: Kids can go horseback riding at Riverdale Stables, which is inside Van Cortland Park, but need to register in advance for an intro lesson if they’re new riders.

Check out our Calendar for fun things to do near you

The Views in Riverdale

Riverdale is a “hill” and because of that, it has some amazing views of the Hudson River. Parts of Wave Hill have some soothing views of the river, and at the Metro-North entrance in Riverdale, you can view the Hudson and Harlem Rivers, and the Henry Hudson Bridge. And taking the Metro-North Railroad to the Spuyten Duyvil station in south Riverdale offers amazingly peaceful, up-close views of the river, and if you get lucky, the Columbia University crew team's practices.  During the day, wooden areas of Riverdale Park have beautiful river views as well. If you have family or friends who live in tall buildings on Kappock Street or 246^th Street—to name just a few blocks—look out their windows for some breathing views.